Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-23
FROZEN In THE STORM
GREAT SUFFERING FROM THE COLD IN
KANSAS AND NEBRASKA.
The Settlers Exposed TO the Biting Winds, or Only
Shsltsrsd By Flimsy Stuctures-A Great
Scarcity Of Fuel-Many Perish
IN the Blizzard.

CHICAGO, December pa Daily Nelrs
special from Topeka, Kan, says: Mr.. J. K,
Hazeltine, banker of johnson City, on
the frontier, is III the city. He reports
that farmer named L. C. Clark, living
near Golden, Grant county, left his family
at home, Monday, to 90 to Hartland, the
nearest railroad point for the purpose OF
getting coal, his family being entirely with
out fuel. He left Hartland late Monday
evening with his coal, and the next morn
ing was found about six miles from home
lying beside his horses frozen stiff. The
animals were also frozen and all Of their
bodies were partly covered by snow.
CIark's wife and three children had in the
meantime nearly perished, and had only
saved themselves from death by leaving
their shell OF a house and taking refuge
from the blizzard in a cave.
Two deaths are reported from Greedy
county situated on the Colorado line. A
rother and sister named Robert and
Sarah Holseapfel, who lived OH claim in
an unsettled portion of the county, found
themselves without fuel Sunday evening
They tore down q small shed to burn the
lumber, and that night, all but the small
amount which they themselves had burned,
was stolen from them. Early in the morn
ing the young man went to the town Of
Horace, about seven miles distant, and
succeeded in getting 200 pounds of coal,
late in the afternoon. Being obliged to
travel against a fierce wind,
he did not reach home until nearly
midnight. His limbs were then
numb and he was so exhausted that it was
with great difficulty he gained admission
to the house. He found his sister in bed
inseusible and almost stiff She had been
without a fire all day and the poorly built
house afforded her little protection. Al
though the yOnng man was almost frozen
himself, he tried to revive his sister, but to
no avail.
Two other deaths are reported from
Greely county. A widow named Mrs.
Reilly aud her two little children perished
iu the storm of Monday night. Near
DightOn, in Lane county, they were with
out fuel and the storm came so suddenly
upon them that they were unable to get it.
The woman's oldest son started out
in the storm to get coal he was
overcome by the intense cold, but fortu-
nately wandered to the house of a neigh
Dor. He was unable to speak. and his
aims, feet and ears were frozen. By stren-
uous efforts his life was saved, although he
will probably lose his feet.
There are also reports OF great suffering
in Clark county in the Indian Territory.
A family of four were travelling overland,
and being about ten miles from home and
several miles from any other house, deter
mined to reach home that night In spite
of the terrible storm. The horses
were overcome, and the family was
obliged to abandon the horses
and wagon and walk miles to the nearest
house. A twO-year-old child froze to
death in its fathers arms before shelter
was reached The Others reached the
house badly frozen.
The condition of the people in Western
ami Southwestern Kansas Is very bad.
This part of the State has been settled only
recently and some of the counties are still
unorganized. Nearly all the people set
tied on Government claims and were with
ont money, depending entirely upon the
crops to he raised this fall. The crop,
however, was total failure, because of
drought leaving the people as general
thing, destitute The majority of the
people live in rudely built houses, which
afford very little protection.